Pricing/Availability:California red fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including California red fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, which rival other softwood species such asSitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood.

Lookalikes/Substitutes:Hemlock (Tsuga spp.) is difficult to differentiate from fir species: both have similar color, grain, and weight. Also, they both lack resin canals and have little to no discernible scent. Spruce (Picea spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.) are two similar-looking softwoods that can also be confused with fir. However, these two genera both feature resin canals (and pine has a distinct odor), which helps to separate them from fir.

Notes: Fir species can't be reliably separated from each other on the basis of macroscopic anatomy. (There are slight differences between the various species in density, texture, and grain evenness, but none provide a consistent means for positive identification.)